Page 27 of Tempted By her Daddies

“Please, take a seat,” Riordan said. He had a faint Irish accent.

Roman sat and Salem nodded, sitting next to him.

Alexei strolled in.

“Glad you could join us,” Riordan said sarcastically.

“You’re welcome. I know I always make your day brighter.” Alexei grinned, but the amusement didn’t reach his eyes.

“I’m sure you understand why you’re all here.”

“Because we can’t catch that bastard, Pinky,” Mark said. He hadn’t been on the team as long as the others, so Salem figured he thought he was safe from censure.

“I wouldn’t use profanity, but yes,” Riordan said stiffly.

“We were so close,” Genevieve said mournfully, from where she sat across the table.

The others nodded.

“What are your next steps?” Riordan asked.

Salem explained them. And then Riordan took them apart bit by bit.

It was fucking humiliating.

“He tried to get a hold in Escana by using one of the King’s nephews,” Riordan said. “Can we explore that angle?”

“How?” Alexei asked tightly. “By using someone as bait?”

There was silence.

Oh. That fucker was thinking of doing that?

“They will never agree to it,” Salem told him.

“Perhaps we can figure out a way to give him an opening. Someone could pretend to want to work with him, and lure him out into the open,” Riordan said to Salem. “You have ties to Escana and the royal family.”

“I won’t use it.”

“Then I think your usefulness on this team is coming to an end.”

He clenched his teeth together. “I am going to my sister’s wedding in a few months. I can speak to them then.”

“It’s too long to wait.”

He and Riordan locked stares. But neither backed down.

“Keep working on other angles. Speak to them before you leave for the wedding. Feel them out,” Riordan bossed as he left the room.

Genevieve let out a shaky breath as she stood. “Well, anyone else need a drink, now?”

Salem needed the whole top shelf.

5

Salem entered Club Slade.

Frustration was riding him hard, and he wasn’t certain that being here was a good idea.

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